The Great Northern mission

Great Northern Corporation's (GNC) mission is to serve all of Siskiyou County with solutions to improve the quality of life through partnerships, technical assistance and access to resources. Our key partnerships with JEDI, USDA Rural Development, STEP/Workforce Connection, Siskiyou County EDC, College of the Siskiyous, Commu...

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Siskiyou Daily News, Yreka, CA

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Posted Nov. 16, 2012 at 3:41 PM
Updated Nov 16, 2012 at 4:13 PM

Posted Nov. 16, 2012 at 3:41 PM
Updated Nov 16, 2012 at 4:13 PM

Great Northern Corporation's (GNC) mission is to serve all of Siskiyou County with solutions to improve the quality of life through partnerships, technical assistance and access to resources. Our key partnerships with JEDI, USDA Rural Development, STEP/Workforce Connection, Siskiyou County EDC, College of the Siskiyous, Community Services Council and the Family Resource Centers are the corner stone of what makes GNC successful for the benefit of county residents.

Food Program: GNC serves as the commodities food distributor for Siskiyou County which is the 5th largest California County by land area. Our population is 47,500 with an average income of $24,063, a current unemployment rate over 18% and a poverty rate at 17.1%. GNC touches over 30,000 unduplicated individuals in Siskiyou County annually.

Home Energy and Weatherization Programs: Established in 1981, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay their energy bill, by providing a direct grant payment to an eligible client's utility or heating provider to help offset the cost of heating their home. In this year to date we have assisted 1,283 people. One hundred sixty-seven (167) homes so far this year have benefited from the Weatherization program whereby homes in Siskiyou County are made more energy efficient. Renters and owners living in houses, apartments, and manufactured or mobile homes can receive assistance.

Access To Capital - GNC Loan/Portfolio Management Program: We are a community development lender which works with individuals, organizations and communities traditionally underserved by conventional markets. We lend to businesses and non-profits, concentrating on those headed by or serving people of color, women, and rural residents. The funds that support our work come from deposits, grants, and other investments. GNC operates a well-seasoned Economic Development Business Loan Program and for over 15 years we have successfully secured more than 100 business loan applications in the amount of $8 million from the California Housing and Community Development in EDBG and OTC loans. This has resulted in over 370 jobs at a cost of $21,600 per loan.

Housing & Rehabilitation Program: For over 30 years GNC has operated the Housing and Rehabilitation Program and are the only locally controlled Housing and Community Development (CHDO) organization in Siskiyou County. Our services include writing and administering grants awarded for housing rehabilitation of sub-standard homes occupied by low income residents. On staff we have several licensed contractors as well as a certified lead paint inspector. Staff includes specialists in Public Works Projects, Environmental Reviews, Weatherization, Community Facility Rehabilitation, Prevailing Wage Certification, as well as First Time Homebuyer Programs. GNC has been successful completing 250 homes and have brought in over $25 million to the cities and the county. During the same period we have applied for and received over $12 million in infrastructure funding and throughout the county over $750K in RLA from California Housing and Community Development in CDBG Grants.

Page 2 of 2 - Community Services Program: GNC administers the Ryan White Title II program assisting and helping HIV/AIDS positive residence in conjunction with the Siskiyou County HIV/AIDS Foundation. The Siskiyou County HIV/AIDS Foundation provides access to health care and support services for individuals who are HIV positive. The main purpose is to provide access to the needed services to keep each HIV positive individual medically, physically and emotionally stable. This is provided through ongoing case management by a team consisting of a social worker, a registered nurse, the client's medical doctor and an infectious disease specialist.

GNC's staff has years of experience with these programs and each are recognized professionals in the field on local, state and national levels. We have an intimate understanding of the local circumstances and needs of various income groups across our frontier region.